While most of the hype for Saturday’s 2013 P.B. Lawrence Stakes will be on the return of Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune, another notable side story in the Caulfield feature is the title defense of last year’s champ Second Effort.

Attracting 12 early entries nominations have been extended until 10:00am (AEST) on Tuesday.

Of those already in the mix, Second Effort is one with a good fitness edge with two good runs already behind them at the track.

After a first-up third in the Sir John Monash Stakes on July 13 they were last seen winning the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield two weeks later.

Second Effort won the race last year before going on to run in a few Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival majors without much luck.

McDonald is hoping they can repeat their winning effort in 2013 but also keep it going in some other Melbourne black types over the coming months.

Of course the PB Lawrence Stakes nominee everyone is talking about is the Darren Weir-trained Puissance De Lune.

Early favourite to take out the $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) this November, the Shamardal grey races for the first time since the Blamey Stakes back in March.

There they dead heated with Budriguez to win before being forced to have knee surgery to remove some bone chips.

Puissance De Lune is a genuine stayer who won the Bendigo Cup by eight lengths and the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington last Melbourne Cup Carnival by five, who should be suited to the 1400m first-up on Saturday.

It’s shaping up as an intriguing edition of the race formerly known as the JJ Liston Stakes with Victoria’s ace trainer Peter Moody nominating for three from his stables.

Moody’s three horse contingent is made up of Adelaide Guineas winner High Esteem who won three on the trot during autumn, Italian import Sneak A Peek racing for the first time since their credible eighth in the Caulfield Cup last October, and Kesampour.

King’s Best stallion Kesampour makes their Australian debut if accepted on Saturday, the French import not having raced since their distant 13th in last year’s prestigious Group 1 Prix de L’Arc De Triomphe (2400m).

Other notable hopes include the Peter Snowden-trained Bletchingly Stakes third placed Launay, Sir John Monash Stakes winner Pago Rock and Gai Waterhouse’s Winter Stakes winner Under The Sun out to improve on their seventh in the Winter Challenge last start.

See below for the full 2013 P.B. Lawrence Stakes nominations, with acceptances taken on Wednesday.

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